The pupils at the school were visited by Jonathan Mitchley, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading,

Sixth formers got close to nature when a botanical expert helped them investigate their school grounds.

Dr Jonathan Mitchley, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading, previously visited Bearwood College to undertake plant surveys with postgraduate students studying for their masters degree in plant diversity.

Dr Mitchley followed the visits to help sixth formers with their biology A-level project.

The Sindlesham site contains a variety of vegetation types and habitats – from native and exotic trees to managed forest plantations, mown and unmown grasslands, water courses and ponds, valuable woodland edges and Bearwood Lake.

Bearwood sixth formers spent a day last month sampling plant diversity in South Field – a grassland area between the school and the lake.

Sarah Nichols, head of science and maths faculty, said: “What makes this area particularly unusual is that no fertilisers or pesticides have been used on it for decades, and a few years ago the school changed its maintenance of the area to encourage wildlife.